Machine for forming containers, trays and the like out of corrugated cardboard or similar

ABSTRACT

A machine for forming trays and the like, which comprises a device for removing blank sheets of cardboard from a magazine, another device for inserting the sheets individually into a hopper for forming the sides, a further device for folding the sides inwardly, doubling the thickness of the cardboard, and a still further device to compress the folds inside the container folding tray.

United States Patent [1 1 Bragaglia et a1.

[111 3,811,368 [451 May 21, 1974 1 MACHINE FOR FORMING CONTAINERS,

TRAYS AND THE LIKE OUT OF CORRUGATEDCARDBOARD OR SIMILAR [76] Inventors:Giorgio Bragaglia, 33/2 Via Pelagio Palagi; Francesco Grossi, 75 Via S.Stefano, both of Bologna, ltaly 22 Filed: 'May3, 1972 211 Appl. No.:249,888

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 5,1971 Italy 3421/71 52 us.Cl. .1. 93/55, 93/53 LF [51]. Int. Cl B3lb 17/00, B311) l/76 [58] Fieldof Search 93/51 R, 52, 53 R, 53 M, 93/53 LP, 53 AC [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS Levkoff 93/53 LF 3,443,487 5/1969 Knight 93/51 R2,844,076 7/1958 Hoffmeister 93/51 R, 1,889,574 11/1932 Schmiedel 93/51R 2,762,274 9/1956 Kerr 93/53 M 3,242,827 3/1966 Winters 93/53 M PrimaryExaminer-Andrew R. .luhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden 5 7] ABSTRACTA machine for forming trays and the like, which com- 7 A prises a'devicefor removing blank sheets of cardboard from a magazine, another devicefor inserting the sheets individually into a hopper for forming thesides, a further device for folding the sides inwardly, doubling thethickness of the cardboard, and a still further device to compress thefolds inside the container folding tray.

10 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures MACHINE FOR FORMING CONTAINERS, TRAYS ANDTHE LIKE OUT OF CORRUGATED CARDBOARD OR SIMILAR This invention relatesto a machine able to continuously and automatically form containers suchas boxes, trays and the like, out of corrugated cardboard.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a machine in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 1a is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a plan view of a blank from which the finished tray isproduced.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a drive portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged fragmentary view of the righthand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a longitudinal lateral folder;

FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 5 in another position;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the operating mechanism for severalunits;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the final folding stage;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a portion of FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 11-14 are elevational views of a transverse internal folder indifferent positions respectively.

The production of the containers is effected by the machine, commencingwith a blank 2, as seen in FIG. 2, in such a way that after a sequenceof operations has been carried out, the sides and ends are formed withdouble thickness folds. At no time does anything have to be donemanually and the finished container is pro duced in a fully automaticfashion.

The object of the invention is to enable an automatic machine of theaforementioned type to be built and to be constituted by a combinationof a plurality of operational units, suitably synchronized one with theother; each .unit being responsible for one particular stage in theproduction; this ensemble allowing the containers to be continuously andrhythmically produced.

The figures on the accompanying tables exemplify, in

schematic form, the various component parts, whilst FIG. I provides ageneral view of the machine, seen from one side, wherein the followingcan be seen: a Geneva wheel 3 for providing an intermittent motion,operated by acontinuously variable speed drive 4 (FIG. 3) with ahandwheel 5 to regulate the speed; a double chain drive 6 witharticulated and interchangeable container forming trays 7, the sizes ofwhich vary according to the dimensions of the containers to be formed,made by the Geneva drive mechanism 3 to undergo displacements orconstant steps P for each working cycle. On shaft 8 of the drive of theGeneva wheel which turns the machine, are mounted the cams 9 and themicroswitches 10 belonging to all the electrovalves used to operate thepneumatic cylinders distributed throughout the machine, mention of whichwill be made in more detail later on in this text.

In order that the description of the operation of the E longitudinalinternal folder F transverse lateral folder G transverse internal folderA finished tray 1 1 is shown in FIG. 2a. FIG. 3a shows the magazine 1for the blanks with the guide walls 12 and a terminal member 13 providedwith micrometer adjustment which makes it possible for one blank to beremoved at a time. The cardboard blanks rest on the bottom of speciallattice supports 14 (FIG. 4) andare disposed alternately with respect tothe teeth 15 on the bars 16 mounted on the chains 17. When the chains 17are moved by the chain drive 6 through a transmission system 18, theteeth 15, the protrusion of which is less than the thickness of theblank to be removed, hookon to a sheet of cardboard and pull it out fromunderneath the magazine 1 following the direction of the arrow and, withthe aid of the thrust rollers 20 which are rapidly rotated by anautonomous motor 21, the sheet of cardboard is carried to the trip 19.Once the sheet of cardboard which is kept centred by normal lateralguides 22, reaches the trip 19, it contemporaneously energizes themicroswitch 23, The chain drive is then at a standstill and a containerforming tray 7 is centered on the axis of the hopper. The chain 17 is,at this stage, also at a standstill, its movement being derived from thechain drive 6 and is ready for the next blank to be picked up. I

The plate 24, operated by the pneumatic cylinder 25 tripped by themicroswitch 23, is lowered and pushes the blank inside the hopper 26until it reaches the bottom of the container forming tray 7. Whiletheblankis being pushed down'inside the hopper, the tray is folded alongthe score lines into a box shape and, due to its insertion in thecontainer forming tray 7 and to the fixed walls 27, it remains in thiscondition.

Because the hopper 26 has a special open shape through which the tallflaps of the smaller side of the tray can pass, it is possible, unlikethat which is the case with other similar types, to quickly change fromone size to another.

In the subsequent stage, the tray is transferred along the axis of theD-E units (FIG. 4).

The longitudinal lateral foldef D is duplicated on the two sides (FIG.5) and its operation is as follows: Through the fork 29 and the shaft30, the cylinder 28 (FIG. 4) moves the folders 31 which, as can be seenfrom FIG. 5, are initially raised since the roller of the lever 32, towhich they are connected, is pulled by the spring 33 so that it rests onthe lower part of the fixed cam 34. As it moves, however, the roller ofthe lever 32 moves up on the profile of the cam 34, causing the folder31 to be lowered. Although FIG. 5 shows the folders in their nonoperative position, on the opposite side the folders 31 are visibleafter they have performed their operation.

This operation, as is obvious, is carried out with a combined forwardthrust and top to bottom rotation.

At this point, while the folders are at 31', the longitudiv nal internalfolders E which are operated by the pneumatic cylinder 35 (FIG. 5) andslide along the guides 36, are lowered into the position shown in FIG. 6and further fold the flaps 37 while the folders 31 and 31 return totheir non-operative position as shown in FIG. 5. In the way that will beclarified later on, the internal folders are made to expand by thepneumatic cylinder 38 and this permits the double folders 39 to undergoa travel x so that the tabs 40 (FIG. 2) are put inside their respectivegrooves 41. Once this operation which naturally takes place duringrtheperiod of immobility the Geneva wheel allows the chain drive 6 to have,has been completed, the folders 39 retract and the unit E rises ready toreceive the following tray.

FIG. 7 shows the operating mechanism used for the E-G units. Thepneumatic cylinder 42 connected with a spiral pipe 43, operates a rack44, the far extremity of which has mounted on it either the doublefolder 39 (FIG. 8) of the unit E or the triple folder 45 (unit C). Themovement of the rack '44 is split by means of the double spool 46 (FIGS.7 8: 8), on to the rack 47, the lower extremity of which can havemounted on it either the part 39 or the part 45. With this system, theaction of the cylinder 42 generates two expansion paths for the internalfold and these are identical and symmetrical. It should be noted that,as indicated in FIGS. 7 & 7a), the displacements y towards the outsideor towards the inside, make the necessary variations in sizes possible.

FIG. 9 provides a planview of the final folding stage I in which theoperations are as follows: the shafts 48 driven by the cylinders 49through the racks 50 and the spools 51 (FIG. 10) have mounted on themthe rotary folders 52 which, as can be seen from F IG. 11, arehorizontal at the time they arrive at the tray. The unit G internalfolders is also raised. In FIG. 12, the folders 52 have rotated through90 and have commenced folding the inside of the flaps 53. At thisjuncture, the units F-E-G which are all together on one common frame(FIG. 11) which, operated by the pneumatic cylinder 54 (FIG. 12), slidesalong the guides 55-56 (FIG. 9), is lowered and this contributes incompleting the folding of the flaps 53. During the transition from FIG.12 to FIG. 13, the folders 52 have returned to their original positionwhilst the triple folders 45 have further plunged the flaps 53.

It can be noted from FIG. 14 that the unit G, repeating the previouslydescribed expansion action, inserts, by means of the triple folders 45,the tabs 57 (FIG. 2)

. in theirrespective slots 58.

The folders 45'are then withdrawn and the complete and carrying the'units'F-G is raised to receive a fresh tray whilst the one justcompleted moves towards the exit'on the machine and on to a conveyorbelt 59 (FIG. 1).

The invention as illustrated and described herein as an example issubject to modifications and variants, all of which fall within thescope of the under mentioned claims.

What we claim is:

1. Machine for forming boxes and thelike, comprising a magazine,

means for removing unfolded blank sheets of cardboard from said magazineone at a time,

a hopper means,

means for inserting said sheets individually into said hopper means,said former means cooperating with said hopper means for forming saidsheets into a box shape with longitudinal and transverse vertical sides,said sides defining uppermost halves, container folding trayscomplementary in shape to that of said box shape and disposed inposition aligned with said hopper means to receive one of said box shapesheets, respectively,

means spaced laterally of said hopper means for folding said uppermosthalves inwardly and downwardly relative to said box doubling thethickness of said sides and compressing said halves of said sides insidesaid container-folding trays.

2. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1, wherein I saidremoving means comprises a continuous chain,

a Geneva drive means for driving said chain,

said magazine having a bottom opening,

said chain disposed in part tangential to said bottom opening,

teeth disposed on said chain spaced apart and projecting therefrom by adistance less than the thickness of each of said sheets, whereby, eachindividual sheet is removed one at a time from said magazine and,

roller means adjacent said chain for receiving each of said sheets fromthe latter and for feeding same, individually to said hopper means.

3. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 furthercomprising a chain carrying a plurality of said container folding trays,

means for intermittently driving said chains, said container foldingtrays and said hopper means having variable walls so that the size ofsaid boxes can be modified.

4. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 wherein I saidfolding means includes means to fold the upper most halves of saidlongitudinal vertical sides and comprises a moving unit operated by apiston, moving from top to bottom.

5. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 wherein,

said folding means comprises,

a cylinder with a piston,

a double rack having an angular disposition and operatively connected tosaid piston folders disposed at ends of saiddouble rack and oriented soas to move from inside said box in a direction towards the outsidethereof and effecting a final folding and compressing of said halves ofsaid sides.

6. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1, wherein saidfolding means includes transverse folding means and comprises,

rotary folders,

a rack means for operating said rotary folders.

7. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1 furthercomprising electrical control means for initiating said inserting meansand said folding means upon actuation thereof.

8. The machine for'forming boxes, as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidfolding means comprises,

a first folder means adjacent an outside of said container forming traysand for folding said uppermost halves inwardly substantially in aparallel position to a bottom of said trays, and

a second folder means insertable into said trays and for further foldingsaid uppermost halves from said parallel position downwardly verticallyand against the other corresponding halves of said sides.

, 9. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in claim 8, wherein ondracks, and

first folder arms disposed on each of said racks at lower ends thereof.

10. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in 5 claim 9, whereinsaid first folder means comprises,

third pneumatic cylinder means connected to said frame laterally of saidfirst folder arms,

a third rack connected longitudinally to said third pneumatic cylinder,

a second spool meshing with said third rack, and

a rotary folder arm mounted on said second spool.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 l,368v Dated May 21 1974 Inventofls) Glorglo Bragaglla v "m It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [30] "3421/7l"'should read Signed and sealed this24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer USCOMM-OC GOING-P69 u.sv GOVIRNMENT murmur, ornce: sash 93o ORMPO-OSO (10-69)-

1. Machine for forming boxes and the like, comprising a magazine, meansfor removing unfolded blank sheets of cardboard from said magazine oneat a time, a hopper means, means for inserting said sheets individuallyinto said hopper means, said former means cooperating with said hoppermeans for forming said sheets into a box shape with longitudinal andtransverse vertical sides, said sides defining uppermost halves,container folding trays complementary in shape to that of said box shapeand disposed in position aligned with said hopper means to receive oneof said box shape sheets, respectively, means spaced laterally of saidhopper means for folding said uppermost halves inwardly and downwardlyrelative to said box doubling the thickness of said sides andcompressing said halves of said sides inside said container foldingtrays.
 2. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1, whereinsaid removing means comprises a continuous chain, a Geneva drive meansfor driving said chain, said magazine having a bottom opening, saidchain disposed in part tangential to said bottom opening, teeth disposedon said chain spaced apart and projecting therefrom by a distance lessthan the thickness of each of said sheets, whereby, each individualsheet is removed one at a time from said magazine and, roller meansadjacent said chain for receiving each of said sheets from the latterand for feeding same individually to said hopper means.
 3. The machinefor forming boxes, according to claim 1 further comprising a chaincarrying a plurality of said container folding trays, means forintermittently driving said chains, said container folding trays andsaid hopper means having variable walls so that the size of said boxescan be modified.
 4. The machine for forming boxes, according to claim 1wherein said folding means includes means to fold the uppermost halvesof said longitudinal vertical sides and comprises a moving unit operatedby a piston, moving from top to bottom.
 5. The machine for formingboxes, according to claim 1 wherein, said folding means comprises, acylinder with a piston, a double rack having an angular disposition andoperatively connected to said piston folders disposed at ends of saiddouble rack and oriented so as to move from inside said box in adirection towards the outside thereof and effecting a final folding andcompressing of said halves of said sides.
 6. The machine for formingboxes, according to claim 1, wherein said folding means includestransverse folding means and comprises, rotary folders, a rack means foroperating said rotary folders.
 7. The machine for forming boxes,according to claim 1 further comprising electrical control means forinitiating said inserting means and said folding means upon actuationthereof.
 8. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in claim 1,wherein said folding means comprises, a first folder means adjacent anoutside of said container forming trays and for folding said uppermosthalves inwardly substantially in a parallel position to a bottom of saidtrays, and a second folder means insertable into said trays and forfurther folding said uppermost halves from said parallel positiondownwardly vertically and against the other corresponding halves of saidsides.
 9. The machine for forming boxes, as set forth in claim 8,wherein said second folder means comprises, a frame, a first pneumaticcylinder means connected to said frame for vertically lowering sametoward said container folding trays, a second pneumatic cylinder meansoriented substantially at 45 with respect to said first pneumaticcylinder means, a first rack connected at one end longitudinal to saidsecond pneumatic cylinder means, a second rack disposed in said framesubstantially perpendicular to said first rack, a double spool meshingwith both said first and second racks, and first folder arms disposed oneach of said racks at lower ends thereof.
 10. The machine for formingboxes, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first folder meanscomprises, third pneumatic cylinder means connected to said framelaterally of said first folder arms, a third rack connectedlongitudinally to said third pneumatic cylinder, a second spool meshingwith said third rack, and a rotary folder arm mounted on said secondspool.